As long as the host nation's economy can cope, the cost is almost immaterial. The cost of the games, in any monetary sovereign nation. can be paid for regardless of taxpayers. The Federal or Commonwealth government can just buy the debts incurred, without interest or any recourse to outside banking funds. Why? Because its monetary sovereign, [which means Greece could not do it] All the work and expenses will boots the economy.
Even if some venues become white elephants it's not a crucial issue.

I find it curious that the writer seems to think this is a revelation.

Outside of the local governments and organizers and those companies that stand to make a fortune before and during the games I have never ever met anyone who isn't fully aware it's a money wasting boondoggle.

I had hoped the IOC's failure to interest even a country as wealthy as Norway because of their stunning arrogance would herald a sea change in attitudes. But apparently there are still sheep willing to go to financial slaughter.

Instead of subjecting Greece and the Greeks to water boarding, strangling, asphyxiation, (incidentally all these activities are banned by the games), at such an exorbitant price, the EZ was better off punishing Greece and the Greeks by forcing them to host the Olympic Games permanently. After all, the lead organiser of the 2004 Athens Olympics is now working for no one other than ...... The Clintons,... A very good funding strategy, indeed..

I love it when data backs my claim that Olympic game charade is a force of destruction and poverty.
The few,keep it going so they can make profits and keep humans under control(because it is easy to have 1.5 billion people stuck on a screen to watch their "pride and joy" national athletes ,getting medals!!As if we give a shaite.
Or we shouldnt give one anyway...Who cares if some mad guy or woman wants to run as hell for no reason?who cares if some idiot jumps over 5 meters with a pole?who cares if one can swim the 60 meters in 5 seconds?What will be better in the lives of humans if an asshole in all other life aspects wins a medal?The few need to create prototypes for the masses to follow.This is how they think they should run the world in order to get profits for themselves ,on the backs of everyone else.
I say boycot the games,and all atletics.If you fancy running ,go do it yourself.If you like football go play.if you like swimming go swim.But do not,i repeat ,do not destroy our society in order for your ego to get a 1 second boost.We dont care for athetic shaite.Brainless humans who only know how to abuse their body.This has nothing to do with healthy habits,or anything .It s all about profits for few.These few we should bring down soon.unless we want to commit suicide .then ,let them continue as they have done for the last 50 years.Soon there ll be no lace without an olympic leftovers.Soon well be running from hunger and poverty (without hope)..Keep watching athletics idiots...
If the rich wanted to share with the rest of us wealth they didnt need olympics.If they wanted to employ people ,they could invest on socially helpfull projects ,instead of spending billions so that the advertising companies can do their "job"(and what a job it is.....scum of the earth these people).

The Greek Olympic facilities are abandoned and unused. They are not the only facilities in trouble. The argument any city has future need of world class one-off event facilities is not logical. The proposal to spread an Olympics around a number of countries simultaneously is far more realistic but doesnt meet the commercial exploitation model of uniqueness. The criticism coming in about Rio tells anybody the costs are now out of control and current ideas of expanding the sports menu to suit media local needs at each location just makes it worse. You have got to feel sorry for the athletes who are supposed to train for years for one competion that can be messed up by the organisers on the day. If athletes needs are not put first just what is the point in a sports event

New Comment

Pin comment to this paragraph

After posting your comment, you’ll have a ten-minute window to make any edits. Please note that we moderate comments to ensure the conversation remains topically relevant. We appreciate well-informed comments and welcome your criticism and insight. Please be civil and avoid name-calling and ad hominem remarks.

Log in/Register

Please log in or register to continue. Registration is free and requires only your email address.

Log in

Register

Emailrequired

PasswordrequiredRemember me?

Please enter your email address and click on the reset-password button. If your email exists in our system, we'll send you an email with a link to reset your password. Please note that the link will expire twenty-four hours after the email is sent. If you can't find this email, please check your spam folder.